Con concerned with changes

Dean of Conservatory Karen Wolff's departure, the decrease in Conservatory merit-based aid and the recent departure of Jeffery Irvine have left many Conservatory students frazzled despite reassurances.

Wolff's resignation last December sparked student and faculty concern regarding upcoming changes in merit-based aid. "Dean Wolff's main concerns were with financial aid and many people are concerned with their financial aid packages," said senior Josh Rubin.

With Wolff gone, conservatory faculty and students are preoccupied with maintaining the same Conservatory standards.

"You're going to get lower quality students who can afford [to pay] than better quality students who can't," said junior Jacqueline Enrique.

"By cutting off scholarship funding you're automatically turning away talented students," said senior Sheila Murphy.

"I think it'll affect students like me," said senior Sarah Clemmens. "It affected my sister when she applied. I think the Con needs to be more careful with money. I've also known people who were really, really phenomenal and we haven't tried to retain them. I can't believe [the change in aid] is going to be good," she said.

"I'm unaware that students had that concern," said acting dean of the conservatory David Boe. "We had a meeting here with students a few weeks back," he said, referring to a financial information session directed by Mike Manderen, Director of Conservatory Admissions.

"Mike Manderen is confident that he will bring in a good upcoming class," said Boe.

In the tail of Wolff's resignation, Professor of Viola Jeffrey Irvine resigned. Irvine plans to take a job offer from Cleveland Music Institute after this semester.

"The Cleveland Institute of Music offered me a position in January for next Fall. I took this position for several reasons. First, it will enable me to spend more time with my family. My wife, Lynne Ramsey, is in the Cleveland Orchestra, and we live in Cleveland with our two children, ages five and eight. Second, CIM has a graduate program, and I am interested in having a few graduate students. Third, Karen Wolff's decision to resign did affect my decision to resign. Karen was the best music school administrator in the country and it was a joy to work for her. If the administration cannot provide an environment where someone of this quality wants to work, then I have less reason to stay at Oberlin," said Irvine.

A month after Wolff's resignation, the Conservatory decided to begin enforcing a need-sensitive admission policy - a policy that would cut budget spending by $100,000. Wolff's departure left some students with a feeling of insecurity, many of whom viewed her as supporter of merit-based aid. "I have certain scholarships and financial aid and I'm afraid that they'recutting so much that they'll cut the packages of people already here," said first-year Shinnerrie Jackson.

Sophomore Scott Mello expressed his confidence and confusion at the same time. "They're not cutting my package...are they? Wait, I'm guaranteed for five years!"

It is difficult to say how the cut would affect individual Conservatory divisions. John Knight, professor of conducting said, "The decrease will affect certain areas more than others. It really depends on how much money is being given in each area. I'm not exactly sure where the biggest changes will be. If [the College] has to tighten their belts then we'll have to tighten our belt too," he said.

Mistrust about the future handling of Conservatory admissions was evident among several Conservatory students. "There is no way this Conservatory will bring top notch students if [they can't] pay. Talent doesn't normally bring huge amounts of money," said Mello.

"I'm not sure I trust the Conservatory admissions to make the right decisions," said Clemmens.

Professor of Viola Roland Vamos said, "They have always based [admission] on money. One of the things Karen has been working towards in response to our desires and wishes is to increase talent merit-based scholarships so we could better compete with other [conservatories]."

"This is something that we as a Con have to get together and discuss with the president and make this a key issue in what kind of new dean we would bring in. We want to make sure that this dean would take care of our agenda. Which is something that we knew Karen Wolff did," he said.

There was additional concern with the outreach programs supported by the Conservatory. Many concerts brought together town and college in a manner that tightened the college-town relationship. "She shaped our philosophy with outreach programs," said Knight. "I hope we can continue in that direction."

"We really enjoyed having her as a dean. She was a very favored dean and we miss her very much," he said.

Below the surface: Despite polite appearances, a lot of tension has surfaced withiin the Con over financial aid. (photo by Jacob Schlesinger)